Tuesday 30 July 2013

LITTLE LOAFIES' TALES


Prof Elf has opened the family floodgates for blog contributions now ... (for one day only) ...
 

 
Today Em (my LF friend) came over because T (Em’s mum) came to fix are washing machine and to collect some STUFF. But before they came round me and Eve (My sister) were playing with bandages and crutches. But before they came I was putting my clothes into the caravan and then when I saw how much socks Eve had I went inside to get all of my pants and socks and stuffed them into my cupboard Eve had 21 pairs of socks and I couldn’t  be bothered  counting mine. Then me and Eve went back to playing our game and when S (Em’s sister) and Em came we played jenga and skrabble I one both of the games. Then I had some biscuits. 
I LOVE LOAF FACE



Today S & Em came over, but before they arrived me + D were playing with the bandages we also used the foam carry mats as casts but they were rolled up and if you put both of them on at the same time you basically fell over. Since we were injured in a car crash ( WINK…..WINK ) we had to use crutches. When they arrived D got both of the foam carry mats and fell over (no surprise there…… ), she tried going up the stairs .… but it didn’t work out to well. Then I showed her how it was done and made it up the stairs no problem. Then me + S went upstairs and got out 2 note pads and drew people in fancy clothes. Then we went downstairs for a biscuit and a cup of blackcurrant juice, after our juice and biscuit they went home.


 

LOAFING AROUND? (yeah right!)





It’s official. The fabulous baker girls are back in business. That can only mean one thing. I will now have to get my new running shoes on more these days.  Not to run away from all the little jobs that I’m invited to attend to “CAN YOU JUST MOVE THAT TABLE INTO THE CAR FOR ME?”  No, the reason is that I’m the only adult in the house who eats bread, and there’s now a lot of it about.  For the moment.  But once the laws of supply and demand are conquered, equilibrium will be on the menu.  Tasty. 

The Elf Economist 




Wow, it worked ... bribery and corruption is alive and well in East Steading today! ... the promise of a good breakfast yielded 100 words from the resident Prof Elf Econo ...












PHEW ... CAN I RELAX NOW PLEASE?






I am so beat ... it's definitely time for my summer holidays ... last week was so full on, I'm shattered! (I'm sure the whole Loaf Face crew are too!).  This wee pic shows us sand artists reveling in our lovely work for gala ... it was actually very therapeutic to do, to take a break from the grind-stone of domesticity and hang around the beach as the haar swirled about us - mist-ical no less!

Since Gala Day, I've become a photographer (trying to upload, edit & tidy up pictures), a journalist (sorting out our Facebook page), a public relations guru (I wish! drafting a press release for the Smugglers Cone, the Collieston Coastal Cafe and Loaf Face - the trio of Collieston businesses - nae bad for a village of a few hundred jolly souls), then a grant writer (we hope to be awarded some funds given the mega expense of our compostable bread bags - can you believe £1900 worth?! - I can't believe the price tag for having eco principles to reduce our carbon footprint on this wonderful planet)!

Never mind, all in a day's work ... I guess that's the joy of running a small business - the variety of jobs you get to do and the lack of any other souls to really delegate it to!  I wish (maybe one day?!).  I am so reminded of a great business book I read ages ago "Business as Unusual" by Anita Roddick, the inspirational founder of the Body Shop ... you do have to stick to your principles and values to give your business integrity ... the bottom line is great but it's not the only line for businesses to consider; I have to sleep at night & my carbon footprint is one of those things I do actually consider - I may be crazy but so be it!

Ok, time to get on with the mountain of things to do before a family holiday for 5 people & a hairy dog can commence ... This is the typical chaos I live with ... my Girl Guide returned from camp & then set up camp on the sofa ... (check the dog getting a tickle!) ...




Sunday 28 July 2013

SUNNY SMILEY GALA DAY



What a fabulous day at Collieston Gala we have just had.  This was our first bread stall in quite some time but boy did our loafies fly ... it was such a buzz to see that our customers were happy to have us back!  The harbour was a throng of people lapping up the sunshine and ice-creams from our newly opened ice cream shop The Smugglers Cone.  When they got too hot from the sun or the tasty burgers from the Store, they could cool off with a beer or jump off the pier.

We were so busy we never made it round all the stalls - just as well really as I never have much time for the amassed volume of second-hand books I collect anyway and I am no gardener to be tempted by the plant stall - much to my Mum's horror!  My wee lass had a lucky round on the Tombola, so came back with many alcoholic (hiccup!) delights for me ... she wisnae happy until her next round of tickets hit the Irn Bru jackpot!  She is a wee Scot fae Peterheid after all!

Anyway, enough text, as they say, a picture tells a 1000 words, so here's for some pics ...


After all the smiley faces, I thought it was about time I showed a pic with our lovely loafies ... although this one was taken late in the day after our Mediterranean Plait had sold out - hey ho!  I also think it's worth closing this post with a nice pic of our lovely loafie laddies who clearly enjoyed Collieston Gala Day!






It's great to be back baking our loafies - cheers!



Friday 26 July 2013

LITTLE LOAFIES


Our wee business was founded in 2007 as a workers' co-operative; 4 Mums with a total of 10 kids between us and one a cute wee babe in arms.  The picture above is my wee lass many years ago getting stuck into our Christmas Cake - she's a wee star baker in training in her Mum's cooking hat too!

Our business took root in Collieston Playgroup, an idyllic seaside village about 5 miles from Ellon (our nearest town with shops, swimming pool and our high school) and about 16 miles north of Aberdeen.  At playgroup, we always served up a fantastic home-baked snack to the kids.  The home-baking of the playgroup snack for me was a necessity, as I am not the most organised of lassies, so improvisation at the last minute from what is on the stocks has become my hall-mark cooking style.  One day we even had endorsement from our local MP who visited Playgroup and signed our visitor book (Malcolm Bruce I think?) and commented on what a tasty snack we gave the kids.

Now we are getting ready for tomorrow's re-launch at Collieston Gala, the centrality of the kids to our business has been ever evident.  Yesterday, T did the screen-print shop and the kids came over to play at mine.  Then our husbands P & F came home for a crazy rushed tea before we had to race down to the village marquee for a fun night.  Today, T has gone off to bake while I mind the kids and another fun day in the village is on the cards - a sand art sculpture / picture piece ... actually I'd better get on - the kids need a snack and the dogs need a walk first!


 

Thursday 25 July 2013

PLAY TIME



Today was play time ...  On Monday we took a trip up to New Deer to Jane Keenan's lovely house to learn the art of screen printing (Jane does amazing screenprints & has NEOS shows & is just the most wonderful lady who is nearly 8 months pregnant with her 3rd baby).

A few weeks ago Jane got us all kitted out with our own silk screen & suggested we have a good rake about in B&Q's off cuts bin - which we duly did - hey presto for £3 we got the wood - Loaf Face love an eco bargain (winning combination!).

Getting it all assembled was a comedy of screwy errors which sadly saw girl power undone when we had to ask Jane's hubbie to help to screw the frame together - but us girls were pleased to see Gregor found it a bit tricky too (phew!)

Then Jane taught us the wonders of screen-printing & we got torn into ripped sheets, an old slate, cut jeans & of course a bit of conventional paper & card.  So, a big big thank you to Jane ( & Gregor) xx

Ever since Monday, we have been chomping at the bit to get printing.  So T went into town today to get in the essential supplies.  I then got the garden all set up; an atmospheric workshop it made too with the haar swirling about all day.

What do you make of this?  This blog disnae want to let me load a video - so if you want to see it, check out the Loaf Face Coop Facebook page instead - bah humbug to Blogger :(




Wednesday 24 July 2013

LOAFIES COMING BACK ...






Us Loaf Face ladies are getting very excited ... in a few days' time we will be back to selling our lovely award-winning loafies.  Collieston Gala Day, 2 to 4 pm marks the magic hours when we hope our bread will be heading back to the tables of Aberdeenshire folks and families.  So get ready to jostle with everyone in the beach and harbour throng of our beautiful fishing village to bag yourself a loafie, alongside some sticky toffee pudding and many more delights.  The tombola is always a huge hit with my family who take a 2 hour drive up north to bag a bottle of Blue Wicked, a Bacardi Breezer or a Bells if they are lucky!